Etowah County Week in Review

Wednesday

Aug 27, 2008 at 12:01 AM

ETOWAH COUNTYJuly jobless rate up to 6 percentEtowah County’s jobless rate increased for the third straight month in July, according to information released by the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations. The county’s rate was 6 percent in July, up from the June rate of 5.7 percent.That is the county’s highest rate since August 2004, when it was 6.2 percent. Etowah County’s rate in July 2007 was 4.3 percent. Larry Foster, manager of the Gadsden Employment Security Office, said the increase likely was a result of the slowing economy. He said he didn’t know of any major layoffs.

School system upgrades Web siteThe Etowah County school system is making changes to its Web site to make communication with parents, students and the community more effective. Jon Paul Campbell, the system’s assistant superintendent for support services, said the most exciting thing about the Web site is the emergency notification feature. “The new site offers subscribers notifications in the event of emergencies, such as school closings and weather delays,” Campbell said. “This system is so user friendly that it even notifies subscribers of sports team practice cancellations.”He said the site will notify subscribers via e-mail or text message to as many devices as a person wants. The site also will include individual teacher Web sites that will be equipped with podcast options to offer a window into the classrooms.The Web address is www.ecboe.org.

Cancer survivor breakfast Oct. 4This fall, Relay for Life of Gadsden and Etowah County are teaming up to offer another opportunity for cancer patients to come together.On Oct. 4, a Survivor Pancake Breakfast will be hosted at the First United Methodist Church of Rainbow City from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. for all area cancer survivors and their families.Amy Martin, Etowah County’s survivorship chair, said she hopes to make this an annual event much like the Survivor Dinner in the spring.“The breakfast will be a great opportunity for survivors to share their stories, encourage one another, and hopefully develop relationships that will grow each year,” she said. “Plus, we’ll have information available to anyone that may have questions about the American Cancer Society.”Although the food will be prepared by the United Methodist Men, volunteers are needed to help with set-up, serving, and cleanup afterward. Former Relay team captains and members are encouraged to help out. If you or anyone you know would like an invitation, e-mail Etowah.relayforlife@gmail.com or phone 393-7637.

HOKES BLUFFGround broken for new schoolMarguerite Early, principal of Hokes Bluff Middle School, said a new school for her students is one of the best ideas she has heard in a long time.And the idea is unfolding before her eyes. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Aug. 17 at the future site of the school on Appalachian Highway. Early said this move is one that has been needed for some time, ever since she became principal at Hokes Bluff Middle School nine years ago.Joe Maddox, the county’s construction supervisor, said if weather conditions cooperate, the building should be completed by fall 2009.

GADSDENCity seeks bids to paint bridgeThe city of Gadsden finally is seeking bids for the painting of the railroad bridge over the Coosa River, but officials don’t really know if they have enough money to do the project.Associate City Planner Shane Ellison said the city will began advertising the project, which includes sand blasting and painting the bridge.Bids will be opened Sept. 2.The city in 2005 secured a $500,000 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration to paint the bridge. The grant later was reduced, and now the city has $491,894 for the project. Ellison said about half a dozen people or companies have expressed an interest in the project, but he really doesn’t know how many bids the city will receive.Ellison said the city doesn’t have a good estimate of how much the work will cost.

Chamber: Living costs lower in areaSome of the latest cost-of-living figures for the Gadsden area are below the national average, Chamber President Tom Quinn said in a news conference.The cost of health care in the Gadsden area is the second lowest in the state, with the Auburn/Opelika area the lowest.“Health care, which includes physician charges, hospital costs, prescription drugs, lab fees, dental services and other health-related charges, was well below average in Etowah County,” Quinn said.The Gadsden area ranks fourth in the overall lowest cost of living of the 11 areas in the state that participated in a quarterly survey. Dothan, Decatur and Tuscaloosa ranked first, second and third, respectively.The survey covers grocery items, housing, utilities, transportation, health care and miscellaneous goods and services.The Gadsden area was 9.1 percent less than the average cost of all 318 cities and metropolitan areas that participated in the survey, according to information provided by The Chamber.

Police seek public’s helpCopper thefts continue to be a problem, and police officers are working daily to solve the crimes, but the Police Department needs the help of the public, Gadsden police Capt. Troy Higdon said.The price for scrap copper has continued to climb in the last few years and is at an all-time high, Higdon said.“At this point, the best we can hope for is that more people call us when they see something suspicious,” he said. “Call 911. That’s what we’re there for.”

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